How to Add a Second Shower Head

A shower after a long day at work can be relaxing, especially if you can share it with a loved one. But two people in one shower usually leads to one standing in the cold. Learn to install a second shower head so that the two-person shower is something to look forward to.

Things You'll Need

Level

Pencil or pen

Knife

Drill

T-fitting

4 pieces of pipe, 1.5 inches long

4 90-degree elbows

2 7-inch-pipes

2 shower head connectors

New shower head

PVC glue

Solder

Soldering iron

Teflon tape

Pipe wrench

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Turn the water supply to the shower off. Let the shower faucet run for a minute to remove pressure and/or excess water.

Determine where you want your second shower head. It is best to choose a point that is the same height as your first. Carefully gain access to the shower plumbing.

Remove the existing shower head and clean/disassemble it. You will be preparing it for a new supply line connection.

Use your level to draw a line on the top and the bottom of the hole where the existing shower head was installed. The line should extend 6 to 12 inches to the right or left of the hole; this is where your new shower head will go. Be careful to drill a hole just large enough for the new shower head to fit.

Cut the supply line running from the water control valve to the existing shower head exactly 6 inches below the original shower head position.

Without permanently affixing the pipes, assemble your pieces. Put a tee fitting on the supply line. On each side of the this attach a 1 ½ inch piece of pipe that will connect to 90 degree elbows. At the top of each elbow attach a 7 inch pipe, followed by another set of 90 degree elbows. Add a 1 ½ inch piece of pipe to these elbows, and place the new shower head connectors. Dry fit the shower heads to ensure they will fit through the holes correctly, and check to ensure that everything is level.

Disassemble the pipes from the supply line and prime them if they are PVC; copper pipes should be prepped to solder. Assemble the pipes permanently to the shower head connectors using solder or PVC glue.

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Place the cosmetic hardware on the shower head stem. Wrap the threads with teflon tape to provide a water tight seal to the shower heads, and insert the threaded stem through the hole. Screw the shower head into the shower head connector, and tighten securely with a pipe wrench. Repeat this step for the second shower head.

Clean up your work area. Once you've attached the shower head to the wall, repair any holes or cracks that occurred during the process. This would be an opportune time to add an access panel for the shower plumbing if one doesn’t already exist.

Tips & Warnings

You may want to add a second control valve for the new showerhead, especially if it is placed opposite to the existing showerhead.

Don't put a hole in your shower until you have made certain that the showerhead will fit in that spot. It takes a lot of work to fix a hole in bathroom tile.